Method for forwarding packet and network device

Abstract

A method for forwarding a packet is provided. In the method: a first packet is received that includes first indication information, payload data, and a packet sequence number of the first packet in a data flow corresponding to the first packet. When a first network device determines that the first packet includes the first indication information, the first network device generates a plurality of second packets based on the first packet. Each of the plurality of second packets includes the payload data, the packet sequence number, and second indication information. The first network device separately forwards the plurality of second packets to a second network device over different forwarding paths.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for forwarding packets in a network, the method comprises:
 receiving, by a network device, a first packet;   determining that an IPv6 destination address comprised in the first packet matches a local segment identify (SID) of the network device, wherein the local SID comprises a function part, wherein the local SID indicates to the network device to replicate the first packet;   replicating the first packet to obtain a plurality of second packets based on the function part of the local SID; and   separately forwarding, by the network device, the plurality of second packets over different forwarding paths.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the IPv6 destination address is comprised in a destination address field of an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) header of the first packet. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the function part occupies less than 64 bits. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of second packets comprises a segment routing header (SRH). 
     
     
         5 . A method for forwarding packets in a network, the method comprises:
 generating, by a first network device, a first packet, wherein an IPv6 destination address of the first packet matches to a local segment identify (SID) of a second network device, wherein the local SID comprises a function part, wherein the local SID indicates to the first network device to replicate the first packet to obtain a plurality of second packets based on the function part of the local SID; and   forwarding, by the first network device, the first packet to the second network device.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the IPv6 destination address is comprised in a destination address field of an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) header of the first packet. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of second packets comprises a segment routing header (SRH). 
     
     
         8 . A network device in a network, wherein the network device comprises:
 one or more processors; and   at least one memory coupled to the processors and storing instructions for execution by the processors, the instructions cause the network device to:   receive a first packet;   determine that an IPv6 destination address comprised in the first packet matches a local segment identify (SID) of the network device, wherein the local SID comprises a function part, wherein the local SID indicates to the network device to replicate the first packet;   replicate the first packet to obtain a plurality of second packets based on the function part of the local SID; and   separately forward the plurality of second packets over different forwarding paths.   
     
     
         9 . The network device according to  claim 8 , wherein the IPv6 destination address is comprised in a destination address field of an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) header of the first packet. 
     
     
         10 . The network device according to  claim 8 , wherein the function part occupies less than 64 bits. 
     
     
         11 . The network device according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of second packets comprises a segment routing header (SRH). 
     
     
         12 . A first network device in a network, the first network device comprises:
 one or more processors; and   at least one memory coupled to the processors and storing instructions for execution by the processors, the instructions cause the network device to:   generate, a first packet, wherein an IPv6 destination address of the first packet matches a local segment identify (SID) of a second network device, wherein the local SID comprises a function part, wherein the local SID indicates to the first network device to replicate the first packet to obtain a plurality of second packets based on the function part of the local SID; and   forward the first packet to the second network device.   
     
     
         13 . The first network device according to  claim 12 , wherein the IPv6 destination address is comprised in a destination address field of an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) header of the first packet. 
     
     
         14 . The first network device according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of the second packets comprises a segment routing header (SRH).